Turkey is set to host the UN COP31 climate change conference next year after Australia decided to proceed with discussions about hosting responsibilities, despite spending substantial resources to secure the event.
The defeat of the Australian left-wing government has upset Pacific allies, who are critical of Canberra’s handling of the situation.
According to the rotation rules for annual climate conferences, COP31 in 2026 will take place in one of the 28 nations within the United Nations’ Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG), which includes both Australia and Turkey.
This past year has seen significant debate regarding the selection of the host for COP31, leading to two contenders: Turkey and Australia. There was some disappointment over Turkey’s lack of support for Australia’s bid. Calls have emerged for the conference to be held in Turkey while Australia should lead negotiations to address existing disagreements.
Climate Minister Chris Bowen of Australia mentioned during the ongoing COP30 meeting in Brazil that both nations are willing to make “significant concessions” to reach an agreement. He confirmed that Turkey would be the host, but he would serve as the COP’s “president” for negotiation purposes.
Bowen expressed, “If we’re going to find an agreement, what we need is significant concessions. It would be great if Australia could have it all. But we can’t have it all. This process works by consensus.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the outcome a “huge victory,” but the decision has frustrated neighboring South Pacific island nations, who were hoping Australia would host the conference.
Justin Tkachenko, Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister, voiced his disappointment over the decision and criticized the COP selection process as a “waste of time.”
He stated, “We are not all happy. What has the COP accomplished over the years? Nothing. This is just a talk event, not holding large-scale polluters accountable.”
Bikenibeu Paeniu, a former Prime Minister from Tuvalu, echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that Pacific nations should reconsider their relationships with Australia, stating, “Australia is not committed to climate justice.”
Local reports indicated that if Australia had won the bid, South Australia would have been significantly impacted by COP31. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas expressed frustration, noting he learned about the bid only that morning, referring to the selection process as “despicable.”
Malinauskas pointed out that the Australian government had already invested about A$4 million in the unsuccessful COP31 bid. He understood the prime minister’s position but criticized the overall international process as “despicable.”
He concluded that it was evident most of the world preferred the conference to be held in Adelaide, but Turkey’s veto power was decisive.
Malinauskas did not dismiss the idea of a future bid for Adelaide to host a subsequent COP.
